Saturday, August 31, 2013

This week has been busy with a great deal of sorting, sourcing and planning things I want to make in the next few weeks. The overall picture is still one of creative chaos, but there are pockets where I can actually see what I have to work with, and to work up.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Well, well, it looks like someone has given herself nearly a week off of craft blogging. It happens quickly doesn't it? Actually, I've been very busy crafting - I made this one pair of Halloween earrings! Ahh, but it's what this one pair of earrings represents - that's the thing.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

There has been a bit of a paper craft gift tag theme this week-end and can you believe it they're not ALL Christmasy. I couldn't resist these colourful foamy characters with googly eyes (that's the best bit) and I thought they'd make cute gift tags with my circle punches and some co-ordinating papers. Owls seem to be extraordinarily popular these days. Especially the purple ones ;)

Friday, August 23, 2013

I don't know if you've noticed on my blogs I follow list, but there are a number of holiday themed paper craft challenge sites that I enjoy following. It's amazing to me the beautiful things that people are creating.

I've finished my first tree skirt of the year - and just in time for a "Finished Object Friday" to boot. I've kept this one simple - without fancy stitches or fancy yarns - and it has worked up pretty quickly.

It's a blizzard around here as I'm back to the snowflakes today - and this time they are silver. Trying to get back into the production groove I've worked up all of my lovely large silver grey pearls. I've actually used 4 sizes of silver grey pearls for a graduated effect and the all-important sparkly rondelle also in a silver grey colour. I thought they looked dramatic and elegant on the shiny black paper.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The lovely frosted champagne colour seed beads that I used in the hanger portion of these new gem ornaments were the inspiration for this version of my pear shaped gem dangles. I have interspersed them with translucent seed beads in the same colour to make them stand out. This started to remind me of champagne, so I kept the focal beads simple - the champagne bubbles in pearls and clear faceted acrylic beads.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

It's my Mum's Birthday today. Happy Birthday Mum! This is the card that I made, and it has a special significance that I hope my Mum will get. Some time in the 70's we had a bathroom that was decorated with smiley face wallpaper - oh yes! - and accessories to match. It was my favourite bar none. Given the style of my Mum's normal decorating, I think I may have had a hand in picking out the famous wallpaper - but we all ended up liking it.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Stop the presses - my in-laws have a Christmas tree. For the first time since I met my husband (many, many, many moons ago) my mother and father-in-law put up a Christmas Tree last year. They would decorate, but because of many animals in the home avoided the tree. I just couldn't let such an exciting development as this go without making them a tree skirt, so this is the one I made for them - and it is loaded with a variety of the faux fur yarns.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

I had occassion yesterday to be reminded of my garland kits, and I realize that I have never blogged about them. And you crafty folks might be interested as now is a good time to start making things for the holidays.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

One of the good things about having taken some time off from craft blogging, is that there are a fair number of things to catch up on updating. As I am unlikely to want too many animal print things for the Christmas Tree (though there are a few exceptions!), I though these beads would work up nicely into bracelets.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

This is one of my new styles for 2013 .. the Glitter Pot Ornament. Being constantly on the look-out for anything that I can string some wire and beads through, I was delighted when I found these little glass vials with plastic stoppers that contained a hole.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Back to the Christmas craft room for me today. I have so many things to work up (lucky me!) that I'm trying to get on to a system ... diamond dangles ... snowflake ornaments ... beaded ornament hangers .... cards. But yikes, I'm forgetting tree skirts, garland, gift tags, jewelry and so much more. I understand why Santa employs so many elves.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

I seem to be going a bit more to the 'designer series' section of my Christmas crafting these days with some fabulous and unusual bead finds. These aren't necessarily unusual, but they certainly are special.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

My work in progress this Wednesday is not so much an item as it is a task. I am in progress on working up all my bits of crochet cotton. I have several bags, and many small bits that are not enough to make a full dishcloth, so I was delighted when I came across a new pattern that was very much like the tree skirts I like to make. It's a free crochet pattern "Shaped Washcloth" from Lion Brand yarns.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Well, all the craft supplies are coming out it seems! Just what I need - lol. Not! But anyway, it is what it is. My mother has a birthday coming up so I thought I'd better get in gear and make her a birthday card. I am very happy with how it has turned out but the glue is still drying so I will show you that one another day.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

A quick little update today so that I don't lose my momentum, and also to keep track of this knitting stitch / dishcloth pattern as I particularly like it. This is the false rib stitch and it couldn't be more simple. (K1, P1) for odd rows, and K on even rows.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Woweeee look at these beads! B-Bling!!! If I were a fashion designer, and my beaded ornament hooks were my clothing designs, then this would be the item that would close the show. My 'ball gown' - if you will - of the beaded ornament hangers.